The Senate passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Thursday, avoiding an amendment that would have withdrawn Pentagon funding for abortion travel. The 86-11 vote sets up a potential clash with the House over this divisive issue.
The Senate NDAA received broad bipartisan support, though 11 Republicans voted against it, including Senators Mike Lee, Rand Paul, J.D. Vance and Mike Braun. Vance acknowledged some wins for Ohio but expressed reservations about prolonged Ukraine aid.
Amendments from Senators Ted Cruz on reinstating discharged service members over COVID vaccines and Rand Paul clarifying Congress’s war declaration powers were defeated. However, the Senate approved measures prohibiting farmland purchases by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, and banning oil sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to those countries.
The House passed its NDAA 219-210 largely along party lines after removing the Pentagon’s authority to fund abortion travel and sex reassignment surgeries. Both versions include a 5.2% military pay raise.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy celebrated the House bill’s benefits for the military and cost savings from reduced spending. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the House to follow the Senate’s bipartisan approach.
The different positions on abortion funding authority set up a potential impasse between the chambers. The outcome remains uncertain as the legislative process continues.